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Haitian Vodoo Rituals

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Vodou rituals are done mostly in the Haitians society, and are brought to different part of the world when the Haitians emigrate. Some people like Vodou and some do not depending on their point of view regarding that subject. Most Roman Catholic Haitians and Protestants Haitians are ethnocentric. Although Vodou is a religion practiced by most, it is also misinterpreted by others. Today, Vodou is practiced not only by Haitians but by Americans and people of many other nations who have been exposed to Haitian culture. Haitian forms of Vodou exist in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, eastern Cuba, some of the outer islands of the Bahamas, and the United States Haitian Vodou is a syncretistic religion practiced chiefly in Haiti and the Haitian Diaspora. “In the nation of Haiti, slaves from different parts of Africa fused their different beliefs into a new spirit religion. This flexibility persists in voodoo today. Haitians not only blended different African beliefs, but also added other influences to the religious mix, including Native American traditions and the Catholicism of their conquerors”[ CITATION Bri02 l 1033 ]. The person that practices the Vodou is called Vodouists. The Vodouists organize a ceremony or a ritual when it is a Saint in the Catholic religion’s birthday or when they want to ask for help either economically, spiritually or physically i.e. spirits are called on to heal the sick, help the needy, and provide practical solutions to life's problems. They usually do their ritual at night starting at eleven and it can go on all the way in the morning at sunrise. They even have a calendar that tells them which Saint to celebrate on a specific day. They believe in God, Jesus, the Loa and the Holy Spirit. “Spirits are authentic and are everyday experiences for Haitians (“Haiti Makes Voodoo Official”). To a Voodoo believer, nothing happens by chance; there are neither accidents nor coincidences. Everything happens for a purpose, a purpose determined by the thousands of spirits that surround and guide each worshipper”[ CITATION Rea05 l 1033 ]. The Loa are the forces in the Vodou religion. They believe that the Loa are the divine spirits that will pass on the message to God when he is unreachable. These Loa have power over nature and human existence. The essence of Vodou is the relationship between the Loa and the Vodouists.  Rituals and sacrifices are used to rejuvenate the Loa, and it is believed that the life force of a sacrificed animal will transfer to the spirit, in essence “feeding” it. On an individual level, each household will set up one or more tables for their ancestors and honor them with candles, perfumes, foods, drinks, pictures, or other effects that please them. God and the spirits are also honored at ceremonies, where groups can congregate and worship. Houngans and/or mambos which are the priests and the priestesses respectively lead most of the Vodou ceremonies. A tree or pole called “Poto mitan” is central to the ceremony, and drumming and dancing almost always accompany the rituals. These rituals are done to gratify God and the Loa. An animal, such as a sanctified chicken or a goat is sacrificed in order to satisfy Loa [ CITATION May51 l 1033 ], which are sustained by the life energy that is released during the sacrifice. During the ceremony, worshippers can be “mounted,” or possessed, by a Loa. The Loa will take complete control of the individual and will offer advice, give cures, and prophesy to the assembly. Possession is usually accompanied by frenzied dancing, and after some time has passed, the Loa will release the exhausted individual[ CITATION Rea05 l 1033 ]. “In the Voodoo religion, each Loa/Lwa has works and duties that they carry out for the people.  The answer to every problem that exists in this world is within the works and duties of the Loa under God.  If one is having problems with love, then the answer lies with Erusile Freeda.  If one is having problems with faith and strength, the answer lies with Papa Ogu. If one is having problems with direction, the answer lies with Papa Aqua, also known to many as Olokun. If one’s problem is with family stability, the answer lays with Erusile Dantour, the Petro mother of all.  If one is having problems with health, then Papa Dumbala is the Loa who has the remedies not limited to health but also peace. If one needs to know the importance of the earth and the medicines that she yields, then they should seek their answer from Couzin Zaka. If the path of survival and destiny must be walked, then the answer lies with Mali Louise. However, Papa Legba is the Loa that we pay respect to before any works or ceremony can begin”[ CITATION Ang13 l 1033 ]. I watched two video online on Youtu

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